Device for preventing damage, ovaling and compromise of the ends of piping

ABSTRACT

A device for preventing damage, ovaling, and compromise of spiral ducts and piping during transportation and storage is provided. The device has an arcuate body providing a grip portion at one end, where the grip portion turn over the outer surface of the body until it abuts it at a contact point. Along an inner surface of the body, an inner ridge radially extends. The device may slide into a duct so that the duct end is sandwiched between the grip portion and the outer surface of the body, thereby provided support against damage, ovaling, and compromise of the duct end.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to spiral ducts and piping, more particularly, to a device for preventing damage, ovaling, and compromise of spiral ducts and piping during transportation and storage thereof.

Ducts are conduits or passages commonly used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) to deliver and remove air. Even though ubiquitous such ducts are not without flaws. For instance, because of the desirability of being lightweight, duct walls typically are thin and as a result are susceptible to being crushed and permanent deformation, especially the finished ends of round spiral duct during transport and storage. Such deformation is colloquially known as ovaling. Furthermore, the ends of spiral ducts are thin and thus provide a sharp edge that can easily cut an individual handling the duct either in transport or while assembling ductwork. Such cuts are an obvious safety issue that also slows down the HVAC construction process as well as exposes third parties to worker compensation costs.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device for preventing damage, ovaling, and compromise of spiral ducts and piping during transportation and storage thereof, as well as providing a cover so that individuals can safely use of such piping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a device for preventing damage, ovaling, and compromise of a tubular body includes an arcuate body having outer and inner surfaces extending from a front end to a rear end; an inner ridge radially extending from the inner surface; and a grip portion provided along the front end, the grip portion turning outward and rearward at least until a contact point abutting the outer surface. In another aspect of the present invention, the device for preventing damage, ovaling, and compromise of a tubular body includes an arcuate body having outer and inner surfaces extending from a front end to a rear end for a distance ranging between five to seven inches; an inner ridge radially extending from the inner surface, wherein the inner ridge is disposed approximately midpoint between the front and rear ends; a grip portion provided along the front end, the grip portion turning outward and rearward at least until a contact point abutting the outer surface, wherein the grip portion terminates in a shape curving outwardly from the contact point; and an increasing void between the grip portion and the outer surface on both sides of the contact point.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of preventing damage, ovaling, and compromise of a spiral duct, includes the steps of sliding the above-mentioned device into the spiral duct so that the outer surface is disposed within an inner circumference of the spiral duct, and wherein a duct end of the spiral duct slides past the contact point and between the grip portion and the outer surface, wherein certain embodiments, an outer circumference of the spiral duct provides a rounded protrusion; and further comprising the step of sliding said device until the rounded protrusion slides past the contact point, forming a locked engagement.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating installation of a ring 10 onto a duct end 18;

FIG. 5 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a detail section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating placement of the duct end 18 into a grip portion 14; and

FIG. 7 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a device for preventing damage, ovaling, and compromise of spiral ducts and piping during transportation and storage thereof. The device has an arcuate body providing a grip portion at one end, where the grip portion turn over the outer surface of the body until it abuts it at a contact point. Along an inner surface of the body, an inner ridge radially extends. The device may slide into a duct so that the duct end is sandwiched between the grip portion and the outer surface of the body, thereby provided support against damage, ovaling, and compromise of the duct end.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention may include a protector ring 10 having an arcuate shape providing an outer surface 20 and an inner surface 22 as it extends from a front end 24 to a rear end 26. The protector ring 10 may be made of a moldable material that can be repeatedly bent without fracturing once hardened, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, nylon, rubber, various plasticized materials and the like.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the use of directional terms such as outer, inner, front, rear and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures: the inner direction being toward the center of the ring 10 in the corresponding figures, and the outer direction being the opposing direction; while the front end is directed toward the right-hand side of the figures (except FIG. 3), and the rear end is directed in the opposing direction.

The front end 24, essentially along the outer surface 20, provides a built-up grip portion 14. Along the inner surface 22 approximately midpoint between the front and rear ends 24,26, an inner ridge 12 radially protrudes from the inner surface 22. The inner ridge 12 may provide reinforcement and resistance to crushing of the protective ring 10, which would not be otherwise afforded by a duct 16 or duct end 18 itself.

The grip portion 14 may be a continuation of the circumferential walls folded back onto the outer surface 20 until it abuts the outer surface 20 at a contact point 30. Before and after the contact point 30 the grip portion 14 extends away from the outer surface 20, providing a gap between the grip potion 14 and the outer surface 20 on both sides of the contact point 30. In certain embodiments, the grip portion 14 may have a laying-down J-shape, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The protector ring 10 disclosed above may be provided. A user may urge the protector ring 10 into the inner diameter of the duct end 18 of the duct 16. A rounded protrusion 40 may be provided along the outer surface of the duct 16 inward of the duct end 18. The rounded protrusion 40 slidably engages the contact point 30 lifting the grip portion 14 from the outer surface 20, as illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein the curvature of the J-shape further facilitates the interaction between the rounded protrusion 40. Once past the contact point 30 a locked engagement is formed between the duct end 18 and the grip portion 14, preventing the protector ring 10 from unintentionally sliding off.

The protective ring 10 may be urged into the duct end 18 a distance ranging between three to six inches, until at least the locked engagement is secured within the grip portion 14 after the protrusion 40 has snapped therein. Thereby, the protective ring 10 is adapted to keep the round pipe 16 from damage, ovaling, and compromise in transport and storage in warehouses. The protector ring 10 may be dimensioned and adapted to fit different diameters of spiral ducts, or any other rounded, tubular product.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A safety device for preventing damage, ovaling, and compromise of rounded piping, comprising: an arcuate body having outer and inner surfaces extending from a front end to a rear end; an inner ridge radially extending from the inner surface; and a grip portion provided along the front end, the grip portion turning outward and rearward at least until a contact point abutting the outer surface.
 2. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the body extends for approximately six inches between the front and rear ends.
 3. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the inner ridge is disposed approximately midpoint between the front and rear ends.
 4. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the grip portion terminates in a shape curving outwardly from the contact point.
 5. The safety device of claim 1, further comprising an increasing void between the grip portion and the outer surface on both sides of the contact point.
 6. A safety device for preventing damage, ovaling, and compromise of rounded piping, comprising: an arcuate body having outer and inner surfaces extending from a front end to a rear end for a distance ranging between five to seven inches; an inner ridge radially extending from the inner surface, wherein the inner ridge is disposed approximately midpoint between the front and rear ends; a grip portion provided along the front end, the grip portion turning outward and rearward at least until a contact point abutting the outer surface, wherein the grip portion terminates in a shape curving outwardly from the contact point; and an increasing void between the grip portion and the outer surface on both sides of the contact point.
 7. A method of preventing damage, ovaling, and compromise of and the safe use of a spiral duct, comprising the steps of: sliding the device of claim 1 into the spiral duct so that the outer surface is disposed within an inner circumference of the spiral duct, and wherein a duct end of the spiral duct slides past the contact point and between the grip portion and the outer surface.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein an outer circumference of the spiral duct provides a rounded protrusion; and further comprising the step of sliding said device until the rounded protrusion slides past the contact point, forming a locked engagement. 